NHL Hockey Player News

Arbitration has awarded Philipp Kurashev a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension ($2,250,000 AAV) with Chicago.

Kurashev had nine goals, 16 assists, 116 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -32 plus/minus through 70 games played with Chicago in 2022-23 and has been awarded a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension ($2,250,000 AAV) by an arbitrator. The 23-year-old centre enters his fourth season in Chicago after being drafted in the fourth-round of the 2018 draft (120th overall) and has 23 goals and 62 points across 191 career NHL games played.

Philipp Kurashev
Toronto has agreed to a one-year, $3.55 million contract through arbitration with Ilya Samsonov.

Samsonov was 27-10-5 with a 2.33 GAA and .919 SV% through 42 games played in his first season in Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $3.55 million contract through arbitration. The 26-year-old goaltender was a first-round selection in 2015 (22nd overall) with Washington and has a 79-32-13 career record with a 2.65 GAA and .908 SV% across 131 NHL games played.

Ilya Samsonov
Seattle has signed Vince Dunn a four-year, $29.4 million contract extension ($7,325,000 AAV)

Dunn had a breakout season in 2022-23 with Seattle as he had 14 goals, 50 assists, 149 SOG, 55 PIMs and a +28 plus/minus through 81 games and has signed a four-year, $29.4 million contract extension ($7,325,000 AAV). The 26-year-old came over to Seattle as part of the 2021 NHL expansion draft from St. Louis and already has 53 goals, 201 points and 769 SOG through 421 NHL games.

Vince Dunn
Boston has signed Reilly Walsh to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.

Walsh had nine goals, 32 assists, 40 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through 71 games played with Utica (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with Boston. The 24-year-old defenseman was a 2017 3rd-round pick to New Jersey (81st overall) and one assist in his only NHL appearance back in 2021-22.

Reilly Walsh
Boston has signed Alec Regula to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.

Regula failed to pick up a point across four NHL games in 2022-23 but was a -3 plus/minus and had four PIMs and has been signed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Boston. The 22-year-old defenseman's rights were acquired by Boston as a piece in the deal which saw Taylor Hall land in Chicago and he brings a goal, 21 SOG and 16 PIMs across 22 career NHL games to the Bruins.

Alec Regula
Boston has signed Michael DiPietro to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.

Dipietro was 19-9-0 with a .918 SV% and 2.61 GAA in 29 games with the Maine Mariners (ECHL) and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Boston. The 24-year-old netminder was dealt to Boston in October 2022 for Jack Studnicka and has posted a 0-2-0 career NHL record with a 5.25 GAA and .771 SV% in a short three game showing across three seasons from 2018-2022.

Michael DiPietro
Vegas has signed Brett Howden to a two-year, $3.8 million contract extension ($1,900,000 AAV).

Howden had six goals, seven assists, 53 SOG, 55 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 54 games with Vegas in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $3.8 million extension ($1,900,000 AAV). The 25-year-old centre was a 2017 first-round pick (27th overall) and has 31 goals, 82 points and 120 PIMs through 279 career NHL games across five seasons.

Brett Howden
Winnipeg has signed Gabriel Vilardi to a two-year, $6.875 million contract.

Vilardi broke out in 2022-23 with Los Angeles scoring 23 goals, 18 assists, 122 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 63 games and has signed a two-year, $6.875 million contract extension with Winnipeg. The 23-year-old centre was a key piece in the deal which saw Pierre-Luc Dubois head to Los Angeles. Vilardi was a 2017 1st round pick (11th overall) and has 41 goals, 78 points and 247 SOG through 152 career NHL games.

Gabriel Vilardi
Anaheim has signed Noah Warren to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Warren had three goals, 17 assists, 35 PIMs and a +21 plus/minus through 47 games with Gatineau (QMJHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks. The 19-year-old defenseman was Anaheim's 2022 second-round pick (42nd overall) and is expected to suit up for Victoriaville (QMJHL) in 2023-24.

Noah Warren
New Jersey has signed Tomas Nosek to a one-year, $1 million contract.

Nosek had seven goals, 11 assists, 69 SOG, 48 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus through 66 games played with Boston in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $1 million contract with New Jersey. The 30-year-old centre will be joining his fourth NHL team and he has 42 goals, 101 points and 146 PIMs across 398 career games played.

Tomas Nosek
St.Louis has signed Jeremie Biakabutuka to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Biakabutuka had 17 goals, 25 assist, 53 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 56 games played with Charlottetown (QMJHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract after going undrafted in junior. The 21-year-old defenseman appeared in three AHL games with Grand Rapids after his QMJHL season was cut short, and failed to pick up a point but had two PIMs across his short professional showing.

Jeremie Biakabutuka
Dallas Stars have signed Riley Damiani to a one-year, two-way contract.

Damiani had 13 goals, 18 assists, 28 PIMs and a -15 plus/minus through 59 games with Texas (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Dallas. The 23-year-old centre was a 2018 fifth-round draft pick (137th overall) and has a goal and an assist in seven career NHL games.

Riley Damiani
Detroit has re-signed Gustav Lindstorm to a one-year contract worth $950,000.

Lindstorm had a goal, seven assists, 18 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -16 plus/minus through 36 games played with Detroit in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year contract worth $950,000 AAV. The 24-year-old defensemen was drafted in the second-round of the 2017 NHL Draft (38th overall) and has two goals, and 25 points across 128 career NHL games played.

Gustav Lindstrom
Detroit has signed Nolan Stevens to a one-year, two-way contract.

Stevens had 15 goals, 18 assists, 17 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus through 48 games with Utica (AHL) in 2022-23 and has been signed a one-year, two-way contract by Detroit. The 26-year-old centre was drafted in the fifth-round of the 2016 NHL Draft (125th overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut after six AHL seasons.

Nolan Stevens
Detroit has signed Wyatt Newpower to a one-year, two-way contract.

Newpower had two goals, five assists, 68 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 59 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 25-year-old undrafted defensemen is entering his fourth season in the AHL and has yet to make his NHL debut.

Wyatt Newpower
Detroit has signed Jared McIsaac to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.

McIsaac had three goals, 19 assists, 30 PIMs and a -14 plus/minus through 61 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000. The 23-year-old defenseman was drafted by Detroit in the second-round of the 2018 NHL Draft (36th overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut.

Jared McIsaac
Edmonton has signed Raphael Lavoie to a one-year, two-way contract worth $874,125.

Lavoie had 25 goals, 20 assists, 47 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 61 games played with Bakersfield (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $874,125. The 22-year-old right-wing was Edmonton's 2019 second-round Draft Pick (38th overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut.

Raphael Lavoie
The New York Islanders have signed Jakub Skarek to a two-year, two-way contract.

Skarek was 15-16-3 with a .892 SV% and 3.37 GAA in 2022-23 with Bridgeport (AHL) and has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Islanders. The 23-year-old goaltender was selected by the Islanders in the third-round of the 2018 Draft (72nd overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut after four seasons in the AHL.

Jakub Skarek
Colorado has avoided arbitration and signed Ross Colton to a four-year, $16 million contract ($4,000,000 AAV).

Colton had 16 goals, 16 assist, 153 SOG, 50 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 81 games with Tampa Bay in 2022-23 and has signed a four-year, $16 million contract ($4,000,000 AAV) with Colorado. The 26-year-old centre was acquired for a 2023 second-round pick back in June and brings 47 goals and 83 points across 190 games played to the Avalanche.

Ross Colton
Florida has signed Will Lockwood to a two-year, two-way contract.

Lockwood had an assist, 12 SOG, and a -7 plus/minus through 13 games in 2022-23 with Vancouver and has signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers. The 25-year-old right-winger was a third-round pick by Vancouver in 2016 (64th overall) and has an assist, 28 SOG, and 11 PIMs in 28 career NHL games across three seasons.

William Lockwood

NHL Free Agents: Best Available Players in 2025

Once the dust settles on the Stanley Cup Final, the NHL offseason officially commences as the latest wave of free agents hit the market as teams and players alike reevaluate their current situation and plot their next steps toward success.

With a plethora of talent up for grabs every summer, Stanley Cup contenders can be formed as well as broken up through free agency. With NHL signings going down at a breakneck pace throughout the opening days of free agency, we’ll keep you in the loop with our 2025 NHL free agency tracker. You can find all of the latest NHL signings of the free agency period as players switch teams, sign extensions, and change the outlook of the league with a single decision.

Whether you’re a diehard fan of your favourite team and are looking to stay up to date with every move made by the front office, or are an avid daily fantasy sports bettor that wants to prep for their wagers, our NHL free agency tracker is the best destination for all your free agent market news.

Types of Free Agent Markets

Each NHL free agent holds their own unique distinction when signing with a team. These distinctions are made based on a number of factors including age, NHL experience, as well as their current contract situation. NHL free agents are divided by restricted and unrestricted free agents, with each classification of player holding varying rights, including how teams are able to offer them contracts, and the results of receiving an offer.

Below, we take a deep dive into each type of NHL free agent so you can get a thorough understanding of each free agent market type, how they are able to sign with teams, and the possible outcomes from each offseason acquisition.

Restricted Free Agents

A restricted NHL free agent (RFA) is a player that is either under the age of 27 or has been in the NHL for less than seven seasons. Teams hold a form of protection over their restricted free agents, providing them with a sort of insurance if their RFA decides to sign with a new team.

While restricted free agents are technically eligible to sign a new contract with different teams, the process can become messy if a team other than their original squad makes them an offer and they accept. Restricted free agents are only able to sign a standard NHL contract with the team that currently owns the players rights, all other squads must submit an offer sheet if they want to lure away a player from their team. If an offer sheet is made to an RFA, the team who holds the players rights will be left with the option to either match the offer made to their player, or allow the player to sign with the team that made the offer sheet, in return receiving draft compensation depending on the value of the contract offered.

Qualifying Offers

In order for a team to retain a player’s rights heading into the free agency period, they must make a qualifying offer to the player. These offers are in the form of a one-year contract, with the amount offered being formulated depending on the value of their previous contract.

For any player who was on a deal worth $660,000 or less, the qualifying offer they receive must be worth 110% the amount of their previous season’s salary. For a player making between $660,000 and $1,000,000, they must be offered 105% their previous seasons salary. Finally, if a player was making more than $1 million in their previous year of duty, their team must offer them 100% of their previous season’s salary.

These offers are not final and players are eligible to receive greater or lesser valued contracts from the team that holds their rights once free agency begins. Players who reject qualifying offers remain restricted free agents.

Non-Qualified RFAs

If a team decides to not submit a qualifying offer to a restricted free agent on their roster, all non-qualified RFAs instantly become free agents and are welcome to sign contracts with any team come July 1st.

Unrestricted Free Agents

The other form of NHL free agent is the unrestricted free agent (UFA). UFAs have the right to sign their next deal with any team without restriction, as long as the offer they sign complies with league salary cap mandates and rules. Unrestricted free agents are truly what can shake up the free agent market, with many of the leagues top stars entering into the offseason as UFAs.

There are multiple forms of unrestricted free agents, each with their own unique classifications, but don’t necessarily affect the potential value of the contracts offered to them in the offseason. Below are two of the most common UFAs.

Group 3 UFAs

Common among NHL veterans, Group 3 comprises players entering free agency that are 27 or older, or have played in the NHL for more than seven accrued seasons. An accrued season is defined as a season in which a player has suited up for action on an NHL roster in at least 40 games (30 for goalies). Any player that fits this criteria will become an unrestricted free agent once their contract expires in the following offseason.

Group 6 UFAs

Another way that players can become an unrestricted free agent is by being 25 years of age or older and to have played three or more professional hockey seasons under an NHL contract (AHL, ECHL, Europe), but played in less than 80 NHL games (28 for goalies) in their career. Often, Group 6 unrestricted free agents are developing players that, for one reason or another, have not had the chance to crack into an NHL lineup, but still possess experience as a high-level player. There is no difference in the rights of Group 3 and Group 6 unrestricted free agents, but typically the latter will receive smaller contracts, both in terms of value as well as in duration.

Undrafted UFAs

The final way that a player may enter into free agency as an unrestricted free agent is by going undrafted in their three years of draft eligibility. If a player is not selected by an NHL franchise through the draft they are still eligible to crack into a final roster as a free agent.

NHL Free Agency FAQs

Who are the top NHL free agents in 2025?

Some of the top NHL free agents available this summer are Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Aaron Ekblad, Nikolaj Ehlers, John Tavares, Brock Boeser, Brad Marchand and Linus Ullmark.

This offseason will bring a stacked crop of free agents to the market that will shape the landscape of the 2025-26 NHL season. Not only will the final landing spots for each of the top 2025 NHL free agents shake up the framework of the league, but will also have major implications on the upcoming fantasy hockey season. Be sure to stay in the know in regard to the latest free agency updates with our NHL player news.

What time does free agency start?

On July 1st, 2025, at 12 PM EST, the 2025 NHL free agency period officially opens. While some players will have all but signed the dotted line up to this point, nothing can become official until noon on Canada Day.